Let's take a closer look at some of the latest fantasy-relevant information coming out of NFL training camps.
RB Travis Etienne, JAC
The only thing holding Etienne from a difference-maker breakout season is the Jaguars’ coaching staff if they restrict his touches. He has been a star in Jacksonville’s training camp, creating a rise in his fantasy value. The Jaguars won't play Etienne in their first exhibition game, so his draft momentum will pause for at least another week.
Fantasy Take: When looking at the early RB2 inventory this draft season, Etienne is the player with an explosive ceiling while not being a lock. The weak-kneed will buy into Leonard Fournette’s and James Conner's 2021 stats, inviting buyer remorse as this season unfolds. I fully expect Etienne to be a top 10 running back this year, and one only has to look at James Robinson’s success in 2020 (seventh in running back scoring in PPR formats). The theme here is to fight for him in drafts.
When researching the Saints for 2022, I ranked him as though he would play an entire season of games despite rumors of a possible six-game suspension. I didn’t think it was fair to downgrade his outlook until the NFL dropped the ball on his punishment. His hearing was pushed back 60 days, meaning Kamara won’t face any news about his suspension until October.
